The Alpha's Mate Who Cried Wolf novel Chapter 40

Seth is in the cell on the left. A girl sits on the ground in the cell on the right. Astrid is curled up on the ground, screaming in pain. 

"Astrid!"I rattle the door, but it's locked. 

"Where's the key?" I ask.

"Ryker!"Astrid screams, trying to crawl toward the door. She collapses in pain and lets out a scream as a bone snaps. 

"Astrid, I'm going to find the key, okay?" I run up the stairs. Leon is watching the girl in the other cell.

  'Leon! What are you doing?" The girl is also gazing at Leon.

"Mate!"They both mumble in a trance. 

"Leon, if you want to save your mate, I suggest we find the key!"I yell.

Leon nods, and we search in vain for the keys. Then, finally, I hear them dangling in someone's grip behind me. 

"Looking for these?" A male voice behind me asks.

James dangles the keys in front of me enticingly. John is with him. I shift into my wolf as quick as James and John do. I lunge at James and bite into his chest. John bites into my ribs, and two snap in his lock-hold. Leon lunges at John, pushing him off of me. James and I fight each other, neither backing down. We are both covered in gashes. Astrid screams in pain. I lunge at James, biting down as hard as possible, ripping a sizeable chunk of flesh from his neck. Knowing he will bleed out, I finish him quickly, instantly snapping his neck. John lets out an anguished howl. Leon uses this to his advantage and rips John's stomach open.

I grab the keys back in human form and unlock Astrid's cell. I throw them over to Leon to free Seth and his mate. Our chemistry envelopes us in a sentimental degree as I hold Astrid in my arms. I gently wipe her hair from her face. 

"Ryker! You're here!"She cries. 

"I promised you I'd be here for your first shift," I whisper.

I hold her tightly through her screams, feeling the discs in her spine snap as I hold her in my arms. 

"You can do this. It will all be over soon. I promise," I assure Astrid. she cries again as another bone snaps. Her muzzle develops, and her fangs protrude from her top jaw. Glossy white fur clothes her body, tearing off her skirt and blouse. Her last scream becomes a majestic howl. 

"Astrid!"She tries to stand on all fours and struggles with her balance. 

"Whoa!"Seth and Leon say, amazed. "She's a pure white wolf!"Seth adds.

Astrid lets out an angry growl at his name. 

"I know. Try to shift back into human form. I promise shifting back doesn't hurt at all. It will only take a moment when you shift again, and it will be less painful," I explain.

"I'm going to fight. Amelia, stay here till the fight is over," Leon says. 

"No!"Amelia shouts. "I'm going to fight too!"She says, ripping off her clothes and shifting into her wolf with Leon. They leave the cell. It's the first time Astrid and I have been alone since she left. My eyes well with tears as I adore the love of my life and her sweet, fluffy face.

Astrid

Focusing, like Ryker told me to. My body shifts back into human form. I open my eyes to see myself lying in Ryker's arms. I lock eyes with him, but this time, I see him through my wolf's eyes. "Mate!"I say, and the world around me disappears. I feel a magnetic rush of endorphins and dopamine sweep through me-the attraction and lust I have for Ryker increase dramatically. I want to touch him, hold him, mark him and tell the world he is 'mine'. My arms wrap around his neck. 

"Ryker, I missed you so much! I'm so sorry for leaving."

He wraps his warm, masculine arms around my waist and presses me to his chest. He cups my face in his hands. 

"It's okay, babe. I know you didn't want to leave. I'm here now, and that's all that matters." We stare into each other's eyes, and our mouths smash together. My body ignites with the intensity of our passionate kiss. It sends overwhelming, hot shivers down my spine. We eventually part from the kiss and pant.